Does God want us to be happy?

Ahhhh, the old saying, "Do what makes you happy, and don't worry about what others say."  Is this a good and biblical philosophy?  Here are the three points of "happiness theology": 1) Whatever makes me happy must be right; 2) Some things can't be God's will; 3) Happiness leads to worshipping the things of happiness.  The world thinks that we all deserve to be happy.  "Everyone deserves to be happy", this is the typical argument I've heard from non-Christians and Christians alike about many situations and topics.  That is a very poor argument, because that would mean that pedophiles should be able to do what they do; thieves should be able to be happy with stealing; obese people should be able to eat whatever they want without the government stepping in; my son would be happy if he had sweet tea for every meal and right before he went to bed.  Happiness does not determine how we live our life.  Here is a little video of a "Christian" woman who says a lot of wrong things.  David did exactly what Mrs. Osteen is talking about.  He went and made himself happy with Bathsheba.  Was God happy?  Let's see.  2 Samuel 11:26-27, "When Uriah's wife (Bathsheba) heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.  After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.  But the thing David had done displeased the Lord."  God does not exist to serve us; we exist to serve him.  We, as humans, don't really know what we need to make us happy.  Was Jesus happy when his time was near to die on the cross?  Did Jesus focus on making himself happy?  So, does God want us to be happy?  I would answer, "YES" and "NO", but let me explain what I mean by this by looking at scripture.

Psalm 68:3 says, "But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful."  This says he wants us to be happy.  Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 says, "12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil--this is the gift of God." So, what is good?  Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 says, "18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot.  19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil--this is a gift of God."  Hmmm, we have seen the word "toil" a few times now.  Would we imagine that we would toil while being happy?  Is this the kind of happiness that we know about?  So, from what I'm reading God wants us to be happy.  Maybe not the kind of happiness we think of, but he wants us to be happy. (Don't condemn me yet, just keep reading)

So how can we be happy?  If you look deeper into the scripture, they all have one thing in common...God is involved.  I've got news for those who think that as long as we do what makes us happy, we will be fine.  If God is not the center of your happiness, you are wrong.   Did you know the word "joy" shows up in the NIV bible 214 times and the word "happy" shows up only 30?  Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, happiness is not.  AND, did you know the word happy is never used in the same sentence as Jesus?  Luke 10:21, "At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."  Jesus was full of joy because God did what pleased himself.  God does NOT want you happy when: 1) it causes you to do something wrong or unwise; 2) it is only based on things of the world.  1 Peter 1:15-16 says, "15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"  It sounds like to me that God wants us to be holy.  If happiness leads you away from holiness, he does not want you to be happy.  1 John 2:15-17 says, "15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  16 For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.  17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."  The world rejects God, so why are we trying to compromise our beliefs to fit in with them?  God doesn't want us happy, he wants us to be blessed.  Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  The greek word for delight is "Makarios"; this means "supremely blessed, more than happy."  Blessedness is based on God's goodness.

Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way.  I think the question we should be asking is this, "Does what I do make God happy?"  Lord, God of all creation, I want to praise you for giving us your Holy Spirit to dwell among us.  I praise you for everything you have given me thus far: love, joy, heartache, pain, trials, and so much more.  I pray that we, as Christians, will look to your Word for guidance in everything that we do and that we will have faith that your Word is perfect.  More importantly, I pray that we talk with you, listen to and know your voice, and rely solely on you.  May everything that we do make YOU happy; help us to deny ourselves.  I thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins and raising him from the grave so we can have eternal salvation; that we can know you, our creator.  I pray for those who are lost and choose to deny you, that their hearts will be softened to your truth; that they will repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Amen.